It’s the Derby of the Alps all over again, except this time both Italy and France know even a win might not be enough to stay in Euro 2008.

The rivalry between these two sides has sky-rocketed over the past few years with France’s Golden Goal victory in the Euro 2000 Final and revenge from the penalty spot in Berlin. They have met twice since that World Cup decider, the Azzurri losing 3-1 in Paris and scraping a 0-0 draw at San Siro.

Both teams still have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals, but are equally likely to crash out of the competition. If Romania beat an already-qualified Holland in the other Group C game, then the result in Zurich will be purely academic. However, if the Dutch continue their current form then the winner of this clash will go through to the next phase. Italy have another option, as due to their superior head-to-head record in terms of goals scored, a score draw with France and Romania’s defeat will see Roberto Donadoni through the Group of Death with a grand total of two points.

It’s not quite the situation everyone envisaged when the draw placed France and Italy together for the final match, but Holland have swept both aside with 4-1 and 3-0 scorelines respectively. Romania proved tough nuts to crack too, although the Nazionale can be boosted by a much better performance in Friday’s 1-1 draw. Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo apologised for incorrectly disallowing Luca Toni’s goal, but for all that it was only a Christian Panucci tap-in and late Gianluigi Buffon penalty save from Adrian Mutu that kept them in the competition this far.

It is worrying that Italy’s only goal has been scored by a defender, so Donadoni is tempted to again reshuffle his squad. Having already changed five from the starting XI that lost to Holland, Alessandro Del Piero now finds himself threatened by the on form Antonio Cassano. Alberto Aquilani is also pushing for a midfield spot after Simone Perrotta was fielded in an unusually deep position against Romania. The defence seems to be confirmed now with Panucci and Giorgio Chiellini giving up their usual full-back roles to shore up the central defence between the marauding Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso, the latter facing some of his Olympique Lyonnais teammates.

France boss Raymond Domenech fully lived up to his ‘provocateur’ reputation by musing that “the Romania result is already written” and he might field “the youngsters in this game so they can gain experience.” For all the talk of a futile gesture, he never likes to lose, especially against Italy. “This is like a derby for me now,” grinned the controversial figure.

Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira might be back from injury, though William Gallas is now struggling with an ankle problem. Former Juventus and Parma defender Lilian Thuram admits he had a nightmare against Holland, but is eager to prove he’s still in good shape.

In attack Samir Nasri has been consistently sharp in training and could finally get a start in support of Thierry Henry with both Karim Benzema and Bafetimbi Gomis disappointing so far. If Domenech does indeed go for a younger line-up, then former Under-21 internationals Sidney Govou, Lassana Diarra and the often ignored Manchester United man Patrice Evra could get a look-in.

Key clash: Fabio Grosso v Franck Ribery
It’s a tasty battle down that flank between The Flamingo and Scarface, one that was already seen in 2006. Grosso came out the winner that day and with his current form will be hoping to make it a Double. “Fabio is my great friend, but I am always explaining to my colleagues that they must not let him get to the byeline,” warned goalkeeper and Lyon teammate Gregory Coupet. “We nicknamed him Monsieur Prope (a French Mr Sheen, ndr), as he has a magic left foot and always serves perfectly clean assists. Great scoring opportunities are bound to be sparked from his feet.” With Ribery often France’s strongest attacking threat, it’ll be a real tussle to see them charge up and down that wing covering and pushing in turns.

Italian connection:
There are so many French stars with links to their neighbouring nation, from ex-Juventus figures Lilian Thuram, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Thierry Henry to current Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira and Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey. Even Patrice Evra started his career with Serie C outfit Marsala. Fabio Grosso shared the recent Lyon title with Gregory Coupet, Boumsong, Francois Clerc, Sebastien Squillaci, Jeremy Toulalan, Karim Benzema and Sidney Govou, while Luca Toni celebrated Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga triumph with Franck Ribery and Willy Sagnol.

Did You Know..?
Even with the 2006 victory on penalties, Italy have not beaten France within the 90 minutes since a 2-1 result in the 1978 World Cup. Their latest European Championship encounter was the Euro 2000 Final on July 2, won by David Trezeguet’s Golden Goal. The only survivors from that game are Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, Massimo Ambrosini and Alessandro Del Piero.

Referee Lubos Michel was also officiating the most recent meeting, a 0-0 qualifying draw at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The other Group B game was a 3-1 thrashing in Paris, Sidney Govou scoring twice with Thierry Henry and Alberto Gilardino’s lone reply.

Including shoot-outs, the record now stands at 18 Azzurri victories, nine France wins and eight stalemates.

Holland inflicted the heaviest ever European Championship defeat on both these teams in Euro 2008. Italy had never previously lost a tie 3-0 in this tournament, while France were hammered 4-1.

With two games of the competition gone, both World Cup Finalists have an identical record so far – one point, one goal scored and four conceded.

Roberto Donadoni’s men tested out the Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich earlier this year by beating Portugal 3-1 in a 6 February friendly. Luca Toni, Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Quagliarella were on target.
France (probable): Coupet; Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Evra; Ribery, Makelele, Toulalan, Malouda; Nasri, Henry

Italy (probable): Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Pirlo, De Rossi, Aquilani; Cassano, Toni

Ref: Michel (Slk)

Ref From channel4.com